Games That Changed My Life (And the Invaluable Lessons They Taught Me)
Some video games are just that. Something fun that passes the time. Then there are games intent on walking you through a new perspective of the world around you. These are the games that shaped the person I am today, from early titles in my single-digit years to games that I have worked into my daily routine at the time of writing.
Final Fantasy X
It's worth fighting through hardships for what you love.
This was my first-ever “real” video game. Technically, my first games were Pokémon Yellow, Red, and Blue on the Game Boy Color, but I was too young to figure out how to do anything more than catch a full team of Caterpies.
Final Fantasy X came to me at just the right time.
I was 9 and impressionable, but I was old enough to comprehend every compelling bit of this extraordinary adventure. And this adventure was far from whimsical. It hit a little close to reality. The unrelenting struggles that people endure, how they cope with continuous disasters, and the overarching question of how to shape a better future in these dreary conditions.
You're immediately dropped into a world that can't advance because a recurring doomsday entity named "Sin" destroys everything before humanity can even dare to evolve. Willing heroes must sacrifice themselves to give their people just a few years of peace before Sin returns and the cycle repeats.
They might have been copy-paste NPCs and side characters, but their realistic (and very human) reactions to the disaster that befalls them at every turn showed me that happiness can be finite. Your life can change in an instant, and sometimes, for the worse. Enjoy things while you can, because you never know if you’ll have your pleasantries tomorrow.
This game touched on topics that an average kid wouldn’t think twice about. But I was built different. I was captivated beyond measure. I wanted to see how these aspiring heroes and renowned legends would come together to tackle the tall task ahead of them.
I stayed, and I endured with these characters as they conquered hurdle after hurdle after hurdle. By the end of this long and arduous journey, the reward was pleasantly and unexpectedly enlightening.
“Everyone...everyone has lost something precious. Everyone here has lost homes, dreams, and friends. Everybody... Now, Sin is finally dead. Now, Spira is ours again. Working together... Now we can make a new home for ourselves, and new dreams. Although I know the journey will be hard, we have lots of time. Together, we will rebuild Spira. The road is ahead of us, so let’s start out today. Just one more thing... The people and the friends that we have lost, or the dreams that have faded...
Never forget them.”
Her words resonated with me. I sat there in awe as the credits rolled. When my body was finally released from the initial shock of this conclusion, I ran to my mother in the living room and cried waterfall tears. Before I knew what a “core memory” was, I had adorned a very precious one with my own two hands.
Yuna became my idol. I admired her morals. I liked how she treated people with kindness. More importantly, I loved how she never gave up.
I’ve had people say that I couldn’t do something, only for me to prove them wrong (and boy, did it feel good to prove them wrong). Whether it’s a trivial task or a more daunting goal, you always lose the moment you give up. I learned this from the storyline, yes, but I also learned it through the gameplay itself. Remember, I was a child the first time I played this. It took me days, if not weeks, to beat Evrae. I was frustrated, and I was even brought to tears in anger. But that only made my coming victory all the more delectable.
Final Fantasy X showed me that there’s something undoubtedly romantic about facing and beating impossible odds.
To be honest, I don’t think that my mom knew what she was buying when she picked out this game at the store. I never asked her about it, but my theory is that she asked the cashier for a recommendation, or she just picked whichever game might have been sitting on the colorful cardboard display. Nevertheless, this happy accident has meant the world to me.
Kingdom Hearts
Always be open to new friendships.
Never would I have guessed that I would start my gaming journey with not one, but two bangers. I received FFX and Kingdom Hearts on the same Christmas morning, one after another. Disney characters and some random anime-looking OCs? Color me intrigued. And just like FFX, Kingdom Hearts would also have a hand in shaping the me of today.
Kingdom Hearts has one consistent theme that has always been plain as day to me. Every player might have their unique take with so many complex themes prominent in the overall franchise. But the one concept that has stood out to me the most is “friendship.”
That might sound like a dorky, cop-out answer, but you can’t argue with the hard evidence.
Everywhere Sora, Donald, and Goofy go, they meet strangers from a new world. And, every single time, Sora makes friends with these inhabitants. They conquer whatever dangers and tribulations lie before them until peace is restored to the realm. The trio leave for the next world, rinse, and repeat. (The choreographed cutscenes and magnificent soundtrack make this format much more captivating than I’m making it sound, of course).
Kingdom Hearts taught me that friends can be found in the most unlikely places. It makes sense. You can’t go to the store and pick out your perfect companion. But a mystifying game like this reminds you of that in joyous whimsy. The key (no pun intended) is to always leave yourself open to the opportunities of a budding friendship.
This is one of the few times you can say, with impunity, that the real treasure was the friends we made along the way.
It’s easy when two strangers click immediately. That’s why people join groups for shared interests, or meet with mutual friends of people they already know and trust.
But what about people you don’t click with? Is it just doomed to never be?
Kingdom Hearts has also shown me that enemies and rivals can end up being your friend, too! A boss fight doesn’t make a “permanent” bad guy. I can’t tell you how many times you’ll be tasked with kicking someone's ass into next year just to have them save your life later in the game.
The cool thing about humans is that they can change. People can enter a mental health program, seek professional therapy, or simply have a change of heart (again, no pun intended). I have butted heads with plenty of people. I would think that we would never get along, just to end up having a nice conversation with them a month or two later.
It never hurts to try. At the very least, being open-minded is a great way to approach every relationship. The only thing that KH isn’t realistic about (aside from the Disney characters) is the fact that you can’t make everyone your friend.
Some people will decide that they don’t like you no matter what you do. That sucks, but the important thing is that you tried. It might come as no surprise that this has also happened to me. I got into a dispute with someone, and tried extending an olive branch a couple of days later. They declined my offer and said they'd rather avoid me entirely for the foreseeable future. Not much I can do about that…
Not everyone can pull off Sora’s innate talent for turning people around with a goofy smile. Not even him, sometimes. But that's okay!
Honkai Star Rail (Amphoreus - Saga of Heroes)
Death is beautiful, and life is precious.
I could spend an entire blog entry on Star Rail alone. But if I’m being pressed to choose the best arch, I easily hand the Olympic torch to Amphoreus and its Greek-mythology-inspired epic.
No need to sugarcoat it. I have a tendency for eating up themes of doomed civilizations sprinkled with a glimmer of hope.
In Honkai: Star Rail, the Astral Express travels to the mysterious world of Amphoreus. No one, not even the Aeon of the Trailblaze, has set foot on this planet. The people of Amphoreus struggle to survive against the looming threat called the “Black Tide.” Their only hope lies in a group of heroes known as the Chrysos Heirs who are defined by their unique strengths and the golden blood coursing through their veins.
The goal of the Chrysos Heirs is to lead their people to a new life, a world free from death and strife, by means of triggering the Era Nova.
A life unburdened by the concept of death sounds amazing, no?
No.
Alongside the Chrysos Heirs, you come to realize that death is, in a strange way, a beautiful thing.
It’s normal to fear death. But that fear gives birth to other wonderful feelings. Passion. Determination. Love.
We’re taught of a world in the beginnings of Amphoreus when death did not exist. Because of that, no one learned to cherish. Life was “stale” because every living thing was taken for granted. Always guaranteed to be there when the sun rises the next day.
The act of loving and cherishing the ones we hold dear to our hearts is our answer to the limited existence we are given.
Presenting “death” in a different, not-so-bleak light is one of many life lessons that Amphoreus has hiding within its tight borders. This was just my favorite.
Another lesson you can take with you is the promise of tomorrow.
“See you tomorrow” is a phrase that’s frequently spoken in Amphoreus, mostly by Tribbie, the eldest member who began the flame chase journey of the Chrysos Heirs. She recites it to instill courage before every mission, and as a casual reminder at the end of the day.
“See you tomorrow is the greatest prophecy in the world.
In every corner of the land, every heartbeat carries a prayer for that prophecy to come true. It may be that only a few heroes will bring tomorrow to the new world, but the prophecy of leading everyone to tomorrow belongs to all in Amphoreus.
People believe it will come true, and they are trying hard to hold onto that belief. Even as the world teeters on the brink of collapse, everyone is pressing forward, longing to reach farther and move toward tomorrow.
’Fate’ is not about the outcome, but the journey. It’s not the flowers that bloom at the end of the road. But rather the paths that lead beyond the gate, where the people tread toward the sea of flowers.”
You don’t need to be diagnosed with “Main Character Syndrome” to forget that other people are living lives of their own. Our priorities lie in our own wants, needs, and goals. But the world is full of people who, despite living completely different lives, all share a singular goal that supersedes all others: Survival.
Each person strives for “tomorrow” in their own way. We all want to keep going and make the most of the life that’s been given to us. That’s a prophecy that will carry on long after we’re gone. Because when our time has come, there will always be someone else to carry your wishes, ideals, and beliefs into the future.
Undertale
It's easier to be kind and to forgive.
The life lesson of forgiveness isn’t only taught in the Bible. It’s also taught in masterpieces like Undertale.
It’s like someone heard the phrase, “Kill them with kindness” and ran with it.
Except you’re not killing. You’re saving the world with peace and the promise of friendship.
Where many stories are resolved with violence and conflict, Undertale proves that better outcomes can be achieved with an open heart and a willingness to understand.
The player faces many monsters in the Underground as well as a choice of actions. You can either fight your way through to the end, or you can set down your weapon and find ways to make your enemy happy, even if they had wronged you.
You may have a choice, but the game clearly favors one route over the other as a way to teach this invaluable lesson.
The "Genocide" run reprimands your intent to kill with guilt trips and, eventually, one of the hardest boss fights in the game. It's an interactive way to get a tough message across. If you approach every obstacle with conflict, feigning ignorance to the stories of those you encounter, you are only making the road ahead more difficult.
The "True Pacifist" run rewards you with the true, heartfelt ending to this remarkable tale. You get to see each companion's unfettered personality that only blossoms after bonds and friendships are made. The game's difficulty even becomes easier, showing you firsthand how every challenge is easier with trusted people by your side.
Without these bonds, you are expected to carry the burden of every crucial fight alone.
I experienced this game for the first time with my husband. By the end of this journey, we both felt the impact it had on our hearts and the newly shared bond it created between us.
Destiny
Victories taste sweeter when achieved with friends.
Teaching a similar lesson (but with violence, this time) is Destiny. Most of this franchise's story was explored in Destiny 2, but my cherished moments span both incredible games.
Once again, the entire universe is essentially given a doomsday clock. An entity called the "Traveler" had parked itself in our solar system to protect and improve our way of life. But it's only a matter of time before its counterpart, the "Darkness," tracks it down and begins what is known as the "Collapse".
An elite team of "Guardians" (chosen by the Traveler) is given the responsibility of acting as the world's last line of defenders. Each Guardian is accompanied by a "Ghost," which serves as a very handy drone imbued with artificial intelligence.
I say that Destiny is loosely similar to Undertale in the sense that, although you can technically play this game solo, it's undeniably easier and much more fun with a group of friends. (Unless you're Esoterickk. That guy can't be real).
Great satisfaction comes from embracing camaraderie. You get a clear advantage in numbers, and certain obstacles no longer feel like a near-impenetrable fortress. In harder content like raids, each person is given a unique task and is expected to uphold that task flawlessly. And I really mean, flawlessly.
That sounds anxiety-inducing, doesn't it? Well, when you're with supportive friends that you trust, it's really not.
We would help each other after every wipe. We would exchange tips, talk about strategy adjustments, travel to the tower and back so people could change loadouts, all without any hard feelings of remorse. Knowing that everyone must be in the same headspace to win, making it to the end of the raid was collectively received as a group effort. We were all proud of each other for what we had done, and we'd do it again.
Destiny has been placed on life support with zero chance of revival. But every moment we shared together was real and unforgettable.
Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Hold on to those fleeting yet impressionable memories.
I am complete ass at this game. But that's exactly the point I'm about to make.
Some people know Super Smash Brothers as a competitive, e-sports title. Others see it as a fun party game where the stakes don't matter. I had the pleasure of experiencing the latter.
My first real encounter with SSB was with Brawl on the Wii. Fighting games weren't really my thing (and still aren't). But this one ended up in nearly every household, including mine. Having a copy present in every house was especially convenient for my large, social Filipino family. No matter where we went for a holiday, get-together, or casual weekend, this game was always there, never dusty.
I couldn't tell you how far I got in the campaign, what my scores or stats were like, or what character I won the most games with. Not because it was so long ago, but because, even back then, it didn't matter to me. All I remember is that I would be in a room with my cousins, away from all the adults, our yells and screams fueled by pure adrenaline.
The excitement didn't come from wanting to win, and the screaming wasn't a response to anger from losing. It was the feeling of being in the same room with close family and friends and simply having a great time together. I remember never wanting those nights to end.
Technically, they didn't. Can you believe that we still play Brawl sometimes 20 years later? My cousin will show me mods I've never seen before during his trips back to my hometown. I'll be hit by a strong waft of nostalgia, all while seeing this childhood game in a new and revitalized light.
I wouldn't say that Super Smash Brothers Brawl is one of my favorite games, but it's definitely one that I will be forever grateful for.
Runescape
Watch out for yourself when talking to people online.
The lesson I have to share for this game isn't heartfelt at all, but it's a nostalgia-backed lesson nonetheless.
I started playing Runescape at the ripe age of 9 (or 8, I can’t exactly remember). Point being, I was way too young to have unregulated access to the internet. My mom tried to restrict what I saw, but I was too smart for parental controls.
When you think about it, I got very lucky. I was constantly talking to strangers in this game. Most of them were likely full-grown adults. Good thing my mom taught me better than to reveal any sort of personal information online. But that didn't save me from people being just straight up mean.
Runescape is your basic MMORPG. In this game, my life outside the screen didn't exist. I was simply fishing, cooking, or mining my way to max level. Why? Because it was something to do, and I was a kid with nowhere else to be outside of school. But the longer I stayed on the game, the more I was exposed to the online community. It was only a matter of time before I discovered the toxic side of the internet.
What could have possibly happened in this little polygon world that taught me anonymous personas are ruthless? Let me tell you of a couple of scams that I had to learn the hard way:
My first scam was with the wine of Zamorak.
Most new Runescape players fell victim to this one. An experienced player would promise you riches for walking into a certain temple and bringing them the jug of wine sitting on the table on the other side of the entrance. Kids wouldn't think, "Why can't you get it?" Kids like me were just enthralled with the idea of being rich so early on in the game.
I went up to the table and was attacked by every NPC in the building the second I touched that wine. I didn't know how to run, so I slowly walked back to the entrance, all while getting hit with a relentless barrage of attacks. But every time I tried to open the door, the player who led me there kept closing it. There was no escape. I died, and they had a good laugh. Mind you, they didn't get anything worthwhile out of my corpse because I'm new.
My second scam was the "Wilderness" trade.
You'd think I would have learned my lesson the first time. But remember, I was a kid. I also didn't know that there was a dedicated trading feature that you could activate from anywhere on the map. At least I wasn't the only one who fell for this trick.
Again, an experienced player came up to me promising riches. All I had to do was follow them to the Wilderness area and strike them down to receive their loot. The Wilderness is Runescape's PvP area, meaning that any other player can come up and attack you without warning or consent. I followed this guy to my doom, essentially. They killed me in one hit, and their only reward was a good laugh since I was still broke.
I was prepared for the next person who tried to get me with the Wilderness scam. I played dumb and followed them all the way to the PvP area, only to stop right before the border and "change my mind". The joke was on them, because I wasted both of our time.
TLDR; Runescape taught me to always assume that strangers online have an ulterior motive when presenting you with something that sounds too good to be true. This was a lesson that helped me survive the remainder of my childhood years on the internet.
Do you remember when Runescape was purely a Flash browser game?
These are the games that I will never forget and will always be grateful for. At the same time, I gladly look forward to more life-changing games that may come in the future.